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Mayfield Senior School Empowers Young Women
Education Nov 24, 2015
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– Photo Courtesy Mayfield Senior School
By May S. Ruiz
Enter the gates of Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus, and you will understand why it’s a highly sought-out institution among hundreds of girls. It is a quiet, peaceful setting, away from the chaos and noise of the city, where young minds can focus unencumbered. A former grand residence near Pasadena’s Millionaires’ Row (Orange Grove Blvd.), it is now home to about 330 students who learn as much about academics as service to each other and the community.
Kate Morin, who became Mayfield’s Head of School this year, puts much emphasis on this esteemed institution’s motto “Actions Not Words.” She stated, “The mission of the school is to find and seek the divine in each of us; when we believe that there is a higher power within us, it informs our actions. It’s about sisterhood and compassion – taking care of each other.”
As she recalls the first time she visited the school a year ago, Ms. Morin said, “When I first stepped on campus I felt as if I’ve come home – this is where I’m being called to be in and it’s wonderful that they agreed too. It was such a blessing because I knew this was the right place for me.”
Three months into her stewardship, Ms. Morin’s presentiment has deepened and she voiced this observation, “The school is living its mission of where girls could find themselves … with lots of support from their teachers, the administration, and each other. My first impression has been reinforced as I spent more time here.”
College counselors Abigail Shaw and Lori Holtrust wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Morin’s assertion about the support Mayfield offers its students. As Ms. Holtrust put it, “The teacher/student relationship is a beautiful thing to witness. We pride ourselves in creating relationships with each individual student.”
Ms. Shaw and Ms. Holtrust exemplify Mayfield’s commitment to advancing their charges’ best interest. They have a markedly different approach to college counseling, apart from all other schools’ method. They work in tandem – every student gets to meet both counselors.
Abby Shaw, Kate Morin, Lori Holtrust. – Photo Courtesy Mayfield Senior School
The college application process starts in earnest in 11th grade, according to Ms. Shaw. “The girls are ready to step into the world of college admissions and they have a Junior College Night where all parents come. We meet with each junior individually, with her parents; we offer two college tours – one on the east coast and another on the west coast.”
“In junior year the goal is for students to ask themselves what they’re looking for in a college, and do some serious self-reflection,” continued Ms. Shaw. “We support them in asking questions, helping them find the qualities they’re looking for. The discernment is the beginning of the college application process.”
Ms. Morin pointed out that when girls first arrive on campus, they’re still little 13- and 14-year-olds. “We don’t talk about college early on; we want them to be in the moment of high school. We first make sure we create a healthy balance and a mindfulness. When the time comes, we’ll work with them step by step, line by line, as our foundress Cornelia Connelly taught us.”
“The joy of our job is looking at what they think they want, and seeing where they end up in,” Ms. Shaw chimed in. “Sometimes where they end up isn’t what they started out with.”
This seeming disparity is evident even in the school’s diverse enrollment. Ms. Shaw illustrated this. “Twenty years ago we had a duchess from Portugal and a girl from South Central L.A. who bussed herself here. We pull from all walks of life, we have breadth in our community, and our students get exposed to a global society.”
Service is integral to The Society of the Holy Child Jesus’ teaching. Mayfield students live the motto “Actions Not Words” by volunteering their time throughout their four years on campus. They perform a certain number of service hours as part of their ministry and every student participates in a beloved annual tradition known as Cornelia Connelly Day (Annual Service Day). Ms. Morin says this year they went to 34 sites in Los Angeles and Pasadena to work with the developmentally disabled, at the Downtown Mission, and other such organizations.
These experiences leave a lasting impression on these young women as they set about starting non-profit service clubs aimed at helping the less fortunate. The embodiment of the school’s mission informs the choices Mayfield students make as they think about college.
In the same vein, a spirit of mindfulness applies as they go through the self-reflection process and keep all their options open. Ms. Holtrust said, “Two years ago, 68 seniors went on to attend 58 colleges and universities – a very broad spectrum.”
But the one common quality every student will take with her as she leaves Mayfield is her sense of empowerment. Ms. Morin confidently pronounced, “Each of them is armed with the knowledge that she is a powerful agent of change for the good, who has the wisdom to know how to use her skills to make the world a better place.”
– Photo Courtesy Mayfield Senior School
